How can I keep staffers on booth duty motivated - especially when the show starts to wind down?

Even the most motivated and well-trained staff can lose steam when a show nears the finish line. So to help your staffers maintain the enthusiasm you need for an exhibit that excels right up to the end, here are some ideas on how to keep them fired up until the show is over.

First, it may be useful to schedule shorter shifts near the show's end, or, if that's not possible, arrange shifts with more frequent breaks to keep your staffers fresh. With the reduced attendee traffic that usually marks the latter part of a show, abbreviated booth-duty shifts or more breaks shouldn't negatively affect the booth's operation. Such changes in routine will, however, positively affect staffers by keeping them more refreshed and alert and less likely to mentally shut down when traffic lags.

Contests can also keep staffers upbeat and energized. While it's not unusual to stage contests that cover the entire show, such as rewarding whoever gathers the most leads, there are other kinds geared more toward the last part of an expo. These would be more impromptu and short term, such as offering a prize to whoever gets the first group of four to stop in for a demo within the next hour. By resting your workers and offering them challenges that can turn the grind into a game, you can make sure that just because the show is winding down, your staff doesn't have to.